Bionic Hovering Micro-Aerial Vehicle Using Array-Spiracle Wings

Abstract

Hovering ability is the basis of fixed-point monitoring and tracking of an aircraft. Herein, we propose a new hovering vehicle inspired by bird feathers, with an airfoil composed of passive opening and closing feather units. Two wings of the prototype are vertically distributed and driven in anti-phase linear reciprocation. The lift is generated by the asymmetric flow of air caused by the opening and closing of the feather unit. The design of the vehicle is simple and can be incorporated into a large-area hovering platform for large loads. In this paper, the design and fabrication of the vehicle are described, along with an aerodynamic theoretical model of the vehicle kinematics. The correctness of the model was verified by numerical calculations and tests on the opening and closing characteristics of the plume unit. The opening and closing characteristics of the feather unit were investigated and revealed through controlled-variable experiments. An experimental prototype with a mass of 52 g was built. During preliminary flight tests, the vibration frequency was controlled to verify that the prototype was capable of hovering and vertical takeoff and landing.